(chapter 1 from the point of view of the Malindas)

"We'll go in and finish up the paperwork." Donovan said, rubbing his brow. The move had taken alot of energy from him. Lacey sat in the backseat, playing with her phone and texting her friends. Brandon sat shot gun, reading a book on the history of the city of Detroit. Hopefully, the stay here won't be short like the last time. 

"So when does Bran start school?" Lacey drank a caprisun. Her dark brown hair looked nice, trimmed in layers to let her natural highlights show through. Her green eyes looked highlighted with her sun kissed honey-olive skin and almond eyes. She tanned better than Donovan, whose skin barely bronzed in the bright sun. Looking at her brothers from the back seat, she slouched a bit.

"My classes start next week." he said, not looking up from his book. He wore his sport's jacket from his favorite school, deep dark blue with white sleeves and a shark on the back and breast. His black hair was spiked up front, a full looking ducktail that wasn't obnoxious(as his mother deemed appropriate). His own skin had a healthy athletic glow to it from swimming outdoors all summer. "So why'd we come here?"

Donovan was the fairest, but it was obvious they were siblings by the structure of their faces. Same lips, same eyes, brow and noses. Donovan had black hair that he kept long, and either tied back in a low pony tail or a need fishtail braid. A 'Warrior's plait' his father had said when he started growing his hair back. He had a strong jaw, and was close to six feet tall, broad chested, muscular and well dressed. The man had no intention of staying in this city more than was necessary.

"My job. The were hospital openings here, and three other places. This one has a nice schooling system." he said calmly. Donovan parked in a shaded area and climbed out.

Lacey saw some of her new friends, waving and getting in line before the doors opened. She hugged both her brothers than sped off.

 Donovan straightened out his jacket, then his tie. He would be going to the hospital after this, and then back at the school at four to pick up Lacey. Brandon followed, a step or two behind Donovan's own moves. 

"....Do we really need to walk around with these.... humans?" Brandon growled beneath his breath. "I hate moving around. I liked the last place." 

"I'd rather not face a rogue just for a patch of land." Donovan looked over his shoulder at his brother. "Besides. You and Lacey need to at least finish highschool."

"We could totally take down that scumbag." he huffed, clenching his fists, smalls scales blinking on the back of his hands and his teeth looked sharp. Donovan looked at him, then reached out and pat his cheek, more of a soft slap. 

"Don't be ridiculous. It's only a short time. Three months at most." he turned to continue walking. Under his arm he had all of Lacey's transcripts and medical inoculations. He did not like how he and his family had to run from a lowly rogue merely based on his brute strength and size. Then there was the fact the authorities at be would rather give their family's land and home to the vile man so not to deal with a called out challenge.

Once the sanction went through, they would leave. No ifs, ands or buts. Brandon sat down in the visitor area while Donovan went in to finish the paperwork. It hadn't taken much time, so they could maybe even fit in lunch after the hospital. 

"Where do you want to eat?" Donovan asked, walking out and moving to grip the door to the outside.

"I'm thinking Italian... craving some lasagna... something with pasta--" Brandon started.

He pulled and it was only a second. A woman on the other side had been mumbling to herself and looked up to make eye contact. She had the darkest eyes he had ever seen, surrounded by thick black lashes. 

Brandon hadn't seen her either, and his muscular form had sent her petite self sprawling. There was a loud thump as her body hit the ground, but a definite crack as her head hit the concrete and tile flooring.

"Oh shit!" Brandon's heart dropped well into his stomach. He stepped around, and knelt at her side.

"Don't touch her." Donovan moved, and knelt beside her. "Why don't you watch where you're going?!"

"Holy shit Brandon!" Lacey swore, her face looking pale. "What did you do!" 

"It was an accident!" Brandon said, ready to finish dialing for an ambulance. 

She let out a slurred response, "Dun touch me," but with the impact on the floor she could easily have a concussion. Donovan took out his phone and handed it off to his brother. 

Donovan reached out, gently cradling her head. He didn't sense anything was broken, and he felt her mind fighting to stay awake. He gently prodded into her thoughts, urging her to stay awake. "Don't fall asleep," he said after a few moments.

He felt his efforts to help with her head injury get pushed back. It was like a child putting their arms out and shoving someone away. Donovan blinked, slightly confused. 

"No shit Sherlock." the woman said, her voice snarky as she forced herself to sit up. The secretary from the office whom he had just had a meeting with was at the woman's side. 

They exchanged words, so he assumed they knew eachother. "I should have worn flats," she said, blinking and pushing her hair from her face. Donovan seemed to have a difficult time. He needed to assess the damage, check if there was any internal bruising, bleeding, --everytime he tried to slip into her head he was met with a sort of wall. It wasn't solid like his kind, it was somewhat mesh and had a few holes. The problem was, it seemed to be moving, changing shape so she could avoid the intrusion all together.

He looked her over, a young woman dressed in work pants and a black hooded sweatshirt decorated with white skulls up one side of her chest. Her hair was like raven feathers, dark and reflective of light. Mocha colored skin, button nose and dark almond eyes set in a soft round face. She was wearing gloss, that immediately drew his attention to her lips for a moment.

Brandon held up the phone for her to see as Lacey and Mrs. Owens(the secretary) had lead her to sit in the visitor area. 

"Maybe we should call an ambulance?"

"I've taken bigger spills off playground equipment." she said, nonchalantly. "Ice?"

"I have aspirin."

"I have some midol."

Donovan was going to shoot them both down, but the women shot them to the punch. Her brow furrowed and she looked angry. ""You aren’t supposed to give a person with head injuries pain meds. It could cause me to bleed out and die, if I am bleeding or bruised in places." she said firmly. "Just…. Ice water, okay, sweetheart?" 

Lacey and Brandon went off to find the closes freezer and water source.

She was in pain, coherent, and able to block him out. He perked a brow and knelt in front of her. Her dark eyes were focusing on him, and a look of discomfort came over her. Donovan immediately noticed her demeanor change. She slouched her shoulders slightly, moved her legs closer to herself, knees together and crossed her arms over her stomach.

"I'm a doctor," Donovan said carefully, a smile to show he meant her no harm. "May I?" She shook her head and continued to make herself look smaller than she was. Donovan looked in her eyes, and visually saw her pupils shrink and a link of white was visible around her irises. He backed off just in time to have his siblings bring in water and ice.

Brandon apologized profusely, repeatedly, and she brushed it off with a pained smile. She was able to make small talk, holding an ice pack to her head. She stood up and said she was going to the office. She made a turn down the opposite hallway and ended up in the bathroom. Donovan perked a brow, turning to chew Brandon out for being so careless. 

"Did you get to heal her?" Lacey asked quietly asked. "Her head bounced off the ground!"

"I'm so dead... I'm so dead... I didn't... she..." Brandon mumbled to himself.

From the bathroom, she was shouting and their conversation ended. "Not today.... NOT TODAY!" 

The principal had come out to see what all the noise was about. She was informed by Mrs. Owens of what happened and her face went pale with fright.

"She's in the restroom right now." Donovan motioned, and the woman nodded. 

The principal, Mrs Vaughn, was smartly dressed in a deep plum colored pencil skirt and matching jacket. Her short natural hair held small curls, and her brown skin was lightly decorated with freckles. 

"Miss Sinclaire was alright?" she pressed. "Mrs Vaughn, I'm principal of this school and you are?"

"Donovan Malinda. My sister, Lacey, just enrolled this week." he said politely. They shook hands, then she pressed on about details on 'Miss Sinclaire'. 

"She could talk and she was able to get to the bathroom on her own." Donovan responded. "She was alert, and responsive, if she does need to, we can drive her to the hospital."

Mrs Vaughn frowned, and motioned to Lacey. "Could you be a dear and--"

She stepped out, her unsteady gait worrying them all. 

"Mr. Malinda was telling me here how you took a spill earlier?" Mrs Vaughn walked over, gently grasping her elbow. Donovan studied her movements, they were relaxed, much like a cat that had just woken up. He recognized the look of someone who has spent adrenaline and was basically running on fumes. 

Sinclaire spoke in a soft throaty voice, cracking a bit, but she looked alright. She spoke, tone and movements nonchalant and moving from the woman's grasp. She stumbled a bit, so Donovan put out his arms to catch her if she fell. Instead her hands went out to grasp his lapel. She bent and swapped shoes. 

She did not even know she was grasping his clothing until she looked up. Then he saw it, her dark eyes flashed another color, a small ring of gold around her pupil and iris. Sinclaire stared at him. He could help but smile and returned her snark from before.

"Sherlock," he said, a small chuckle at the end of his statement. She withdrew her hands, standing up straight she was significantly shorter than him. Almost a full foot.

"Excuse me?" she perked a brow and gnawed her lower lip. A lightbulb went off, and her face darkened with a blush. "Shii-oot." 

"Glad to see there’s no memory loss," Donovan nodded, straightening his jacket. "It was a pleasure meeting you."

"The pleasure is all mine." she said, quickly walking away. She gripped the bag where she had tucked her shoes away and moved to get out of building. Donovan watched as she left with as much dignity as anyone could have, despite the head injury and embarrassment. She had left an an impression on him, and hopefully they'd see one another again. 

Maybe this place wasn't so bad after all.